16 May, 2017
Illinois House Unanimously Passes Lang-Harris Resolution On Hate Crimes
Illinois House of Representatives passes HR194 with unanimous vote, condemning the acts of harassment and violence that have been committed recently against Jews, Muslims, refugees, LGBTQ, and communities of color.
The resolution, introduced by State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie) on the 7th of March, 2017, and co-sponsored by State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago), was drafted in lieu of the rise in hate crimes throughout Northern America. It assures Illinoisans of the government’s commitment to the rigorous protection of their freedom.
The language of the resolution is as follows:
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, There has been a dramatic increase of incidents
3 targeting minority populations all over the United States, with
4 repeated rhetoric and harassment of Jews, Muslims, refugees,
5 LGBTQ, and communities of color, creating a climate of
6 pervasive fear and anxiety; and
7 WHEREAS, Over the last two months in Illinois and
8 throughout the United States, there has been a dramatic
9 increase in crimes of hate directed at Jews and Muslims,
10 including acts of desecration; and
11 WHEREAS, The JCC Association of North America reports over
12 160 Jewish Community Centers and Jewish day schools in the
13 United States and Canada have received bomb threats in the last
14 two months; and
15 WHEREAS, In January alone, over 48 Jewish Community Centers
16 in 27 states received bomb threats and, on February 27, there
17 were 31 incidents of bomb threats called into 23 JCCs and eight
18 Jewish day schools in Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware,
19 Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, New
20 York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia,
21 Washington State, and Calgary (Canada); and
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1 WHEREAS, Five waves of reported threats have been recorded,
2 and in the last wave, 100 incidents were recorded at 81
3 locations (inclusive of JCCs and Jewish day schools) in 33
4 states and two Canadian provinces, including two Jewish
5 Community Centers in Illinois, in Hyde Park and Lake Zurich;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, Two Jewish cemeteries, located in St. Louis,
8 Missouri and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were vandalized, with
9 headstones overturned, crumbled and destroyed, and swastikas
10 written on graves; and
11 WHEREAS, Jewish agencies were also being targeted, with two
12 recorded bomb threats called into the Anti-Defamation League
13 headquarters in the New York City, New York and San Francisco,
14 California regional offices, both of which were evacuated; and
15 WHEREAS, The Loop Synagogue in downtown Chicago was the
16 target of vandalism; the suspect, who has been arrested, broke
17 a window and placed swastikas on the door of the synagogue; and
18 WHEREAS, Swastikas were found in the men’s bathroom at the
19 Northbrook Public Library, a frequent occurrence since
20 November of 2016; and
21 WHEREAS, A swastika was found carved into a bench at the
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1 Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, which welcomes
2 and educates about 1,000 students and staff and members of the
3 general public each day; and
4 WHEREAS, The FBI reported 5,818 hate crimes in 2015, up by
5 6% over the previous year, and with anti-Muslim hate crimes up
6 by 67%; and
7 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois remains committed to
8 religious freedom and the full protection of the United States
9 and Illinois Constitutions for all people, and will fight
10 vigorously to defend against any actions to the contrary; and
11 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recognizes an assault on any
12 one race, religion, or culture is an assault on all, and
13 condemns racism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia,
14 anti-Semitism, and all other forms of hate, and is committed to
15 honor and protect all Illinois residents, regardless of race,
16 ethnicity, religion, immigration status, and all other
17 communities targeted by such hateful and disturbing acts; and
18 WHEREAS, The United States of America has a proud history
19 of accepting its residents, regardless of ethnic origins,
20 religious affiliation, or country of origin, and for fighting
21 against intolerance, bigotry, evil, violence, and segregation;
22 therefore, be it
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1 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2 HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
3 condemn these evil acts of fearmongering and desecration, that
4 we will respond to these despicable actions with swift and
5 decisive conviction and action, provide full support to the
6 victims, and join in partnership with law enforcement and other
7 State agencies to denounce further evil acts to combat any
8 future threats based on hate to all in the great State of
9 Illinois; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
11 delivered to Governor Bruce Rauner, Attorney General Lisa
12 Madigan, the Director of the Illinois State Police, and all 102
13 States’ Attorneys in the State of Illinois.